Rio Tinto partnership

Written by: David Marsh

Fauna & Flora International (FFI) and Rio Tinto have worked successfully in partnership since 2003. Our collaboration strives to integrate best practice management of biodiversity and ecosystem services into Rio Tinto’s decision making processes.

This work continually pushes the boundaries of mining best practice through pioneering initiatives for maintaining healthy functioning ecosystems and sustainable livelihoods.

Benefits on both sides

Together, FFI and Rio Tinto seek to develop new approaches to biodiversity conservation within the corporate sector. These approaches work across disciplines (including ecology, sustainable livelihoods and extractive industry) to minimise the ecological impacts of operational activities.

A gemsbok and zebra in Namibia, one of the countries in which Rio Tinto works. Credit: Pippa Howard/FFI.

The partnership helps Rio Tinto identify and manage environmental risks and recognise conservation issues during exploration and project operations. Our work also aims to influence the mining sector and governments to conserve biodiversity and improve the livelihoods of communities in regions where extraction takes place.

Engage the mining sector and governments in improving biodiversity conservation and livelihoods. Rio Tinto supports FFI’s engagement with the International Council on Mining and Metals, a key forum for effecting change in the extractive sector

Demoiselle cranes in Mongolia. Credit: Pippa Howard/FFI.

The partnership has also been influential in our wider involvement in landscape level planning in Namibia’s uranium-rich Erongo Province, home to Rio Tinto’s Rössing Uranium mine. FFI is working with the Ministry of Mining and Environment to minimise the impacts of the country’s uranium mining.

Ongoing efforts

FFI’s biodiversity and geographic information systems (GIS) experts are investigating the challenges and potential solutions of offsetting environmental damage in developing countries using the case study of Namibia’s Central Namib Desert. Any solutions will incorporate important issues such as landscape connectivity, socio-economic constraints, land tenure, extractive industry footprints and community conservation projects.

A giraffe and elephant share a water hole in Namibia. Credit: Pippa Howard/FFI.

FFI is providing Rio Tinto with the tools to manage risks related to biodiversity globally. We are also supporting capacity building and stakeholder engagement for Rio Tinto’s Oyu Tolgoi mine in Mongolia. This will help build the local environmental team’s understanding of ecosystem services issues in the South Gobi Desert and how best to manage them.

FFI will continue to provide technical advice to improve Rio Tinto’s operations and challenge the mining sector and governments more broadly to have a positive impact on ecosystems and livelihoods.

Written by

David Marsh

David Marsh is the Rio Tinto Programme Manager within Fauna & Flora International’s Mining & Energy Programme. David has degrees in Marine Biology, International Business and Environmental Management from the University of Queensland, Australia. He has six years of experience in environmental impact assessment, ecological monitoring, biodiversity risk assessment, biodiversity conservation and project management. He is passionate about wildlife and has volunteered on marine turtle monitoring projects in Costa Rica and carnivore conservation projects in Southern Africa.

Fauna & Flora International (FFI) is a company limited by guarantee, incorporated in England and Wales, Registered Company Number 2677068. Registered Charity Number 1011102
Fauna & Flora International Australia (Ltd) is a company limited by guarantee, and recognised as a Charitable Institution (ABN 75 132 715 783, ACN 132715783)
Fauna & Flora International Inc. is a Not for Profit Organisation in the State of Massachusetts. It is tax exempt (EIN #04-2730954) and has 501(c) (3) status
Fauna & Flora International Singapore is a public company limited by guarantee, Registration Number 201133836K. Registered charity under the Singapore Charities Act